Bill > HB1193

Introduced Session

AN ACT To amend Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to education, so as to promote and advance state-wide literacy and reading education efforts; to include Quality Basic Education funding for school based literacy coaches in each public school in this state with students in any of grades kindergarten through three; to provide for duties and responsibilities of the Georgia Council on Literacy; to require all children to attend kindergarten prior to enrolling in first grade, subject to exception; to encourage families to have their children attend school or a home study program beginning at age five; to provide for parents and guardians of students who are eligible for initial public school enrollment in first grade to elect for their children to be enrolled in kindergarten rather than first grade; to provide for parents and guardians to elect for their children who are either four or five years old to be enrolled in a voluntary pre-kindergarten program provided and operated as part of Georgia's Pre-K Program; to provide for first grade readiness assessments; to require annual reports regarding first grade readiness; to revise provisions relative to grade placement, promotion, and retention; to provide for literacy coaching endorsements for certificated professional personnel; to substantially revise the "Georgia Early Literacy and Dyslexia Act"; to include legislative intent; to provide for a definition; to revise provisions of said Act relative to the selection of and requirements for universal reading screeners; to revise provisions for professional learning; to require local school systems and other public schools H. B. 1193 (SUB) to have unified literacy plans; to revise provisions for educator preparation programs and the evaluation of such programs by the Professional Standards Commission; to provide for regional literacy coaches employed by regional educational service agencies; to provide for certification of and funding for high-quality instructional materials; to establish within the Office of Student Achievement the Georgia Literacy Coordinating Committee; to provide for the Georgia Director of Literacy; to provide for the Georgia Coordinator of Literacy Coaches; to repeal the Georgia Literacy Coach; to provide for a position description and minimum qualifications and duties for school based literacy coaches and regional literacy coaches; to establish the Georgia Literacy Task Force; to provide for appointment, qualifications, duties, and compensation of members of such task force; to provide for recommendations of such task force; to provide for consideration of such recommendations by the State Board of Education; to provide for a comprehensive state-wide promotional campaign for literacy awareness; to provide a short title; to provide for an effective date; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Jon Burns (R)*,  Matt Dubnik (R)*,  Chris Erwin (R)*,  Gerald Greene (R)*,  Matt Hatchett (R)*,  Jan Jones (R)*, 

Senate Read and Referred (on 02/25/2026)

Official Document